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| photo courtesy: wwewrestlemania30.blogspot.in |
A major rumored storyline has reportedly been dropped, WWE's champions are possibly in line to face multiple opponents and there is speculation that an icon may not be headed for the marquee event.
After having mostly whispers and guesses to go on, fans now know a number of things for certain about WrestleMania. For one, Hulk Hogan is hosting the pay-per-view.
Early morning in NYC headed to train chest and back brother,as the Host Of WRESTLEMANIA 30 I gotta be ready for anything,BROTHER!!!! HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) February 26, 2014 Undertaker returned on Monday's Raw and accepted Brock Lesnar's challenge, first stabbing him with a pen and then chokeslamming him through a table. That sets up the annual attempt to end Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania.Daniel Bryan challenged Triple H to a match at that show as well.
"Triple H, give these people what THEY want at @WrestleMania! ... Triple H vs. Daniel Bryan at @WrestleMania 30!" - @WWEDanielBryan #RAW
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 25, 2014 Although he was yet to accept, there's a strong indication that's Bryan's story veers away from title pursuits and focuses on revenge instead.
John Cena and Bray Wyatt collided once again, this time "The Eater of Worlds" forcing Cena to leave the arena on a stretcher. Although neither match is official, it appears we can count on seeing Cena vs. Wyatt.
Whether Sting will join WWE and have some role at WrestleMania is far less clear.
Sting Update
The possibility of Sting facing The Undertaker is gone now, Lesnar taking up that challenge instead.
A recent schedule change has some folks less certain that Sting will sign with WWE, at least before WrestleMania. As WrestlingInc.com points out, Sting is set to appear for Revolution Pro Wrestling on March 14 and 15.
Two weeks Saturday! Huge!! @RevProUK pic.twitter.com/1tQND8hlJE
— Chris Roberts (@HotBoxRoberts) February 26, 2014 While that's still weeks away from WrestleMania, it has sparked a discussion of why Sting signed on for those appearances after Ric Flair pulled out of those events.If he were set to join WWE and hop into the WrestleMania picture, he'd more likely be working WWE events during that time.
TNA did confirm that "The Icon" is no longer with the company. When a fan asked whether or not Sting would be at the TNA Lockdown event on March 9, TNA responded, (h/t WrestleZone.com), with the following:
"Sting is not scheduled to appear at Lockdown 2014 PPV or Fan InterAction, unfortunately Sting is no longer with the company so therefore we have no booked appearances for him at any events in the future, Sorry about that."That makes official what fans knew for some time. What's his next step, though?
With as much as the potential Sting to WWE deal is lagging, it's looking far more likely that he debuts on the night after WrestleMania, a night traditionally home to major surprises, i.e. Lesnar's return in 2012.
The Authority Storyline Shrinking Down
Last year, when Vince McMahon and Triple H squabbled in public over issues of power, it appeared that this would eventually lead to a climactic collision at WrestleMania. One possible scenario, per Wrestling Observer, via Camel Clutch, was for Steve Austin to represent McMahon and face Triple H.
That was a long shot thanks to Austin being no guarantee to return, but now it looks as if McMahon won't be a part of a WrestleMania storyline at all.
Wrestling Observer, via WrestleZone.com, reports, "the big story line plan of having Vince McMahon return to WWE TV to begin a power struggle with Stephanie and HHH for control of WWE, has been scrapped."
The focus instead has seemed to be on Triple H's issues with Bryan.
Although it will irk fans hoping to see Bryan in the WWE title match, this move will lead to a momentous match as this narrative has been building since SummerSlam. The bearded one is seemingly set to get some payback without the clutter of too many authority figures.
Championship Possibilities
Randy Orton's challenger has been set since Batista won the 2014 Royal Rumble. AJ Lee and The New Age Outlaws have their share of enemies, but no clear contenders.
WWE's reported plan is to have those champs face more than one foe at once. According to Wrestling Observer, via WrestleZone.com, "there have been talks of holding both a multi-Divas championship match at the PPV, as well as a multi-tag team Tag Title Match."
With Naomi injured, the most logical step for AJ would seem to be to have her and Tamina Snuka complete the Shawn Michaels and Diesel comparisons and turn on each other.
The fact that the company is leaning toward multiple opponents suggest that the Total Divas cast will be included at WrestleMania rather than Tamina. It would make for great material to add to the reality show.
Other than Natalya, none of those women would make for an opponent capable of a WrestleMania-worthy match. Perhaps, then, the plan is to have the chaos of a Triple Threat make up for the lack of match quality.
That's great news for fans of The Bella Twins, Eva Marie and Cameron.
The New Age Outlaws aren't guaranteed to hold onto their titles until WrestleMania, but should they do so, a crowded ring awaits them. WWE went to the multiple-team match often in 2013 including a three-squad tilt at Hell in a Cell and a Fatal 4-Way match at TLC.
It should prove to be an exciting offering if this comes to pass at WrestleMania as well and allows WWE to plug in a number of teams into a single match.
Don't count on those matches being announced right away, though. WWE has a lot more marquee matches to concentrate on first.
source: bleacherreport.com
